OBITUARY: Wilson A. Heefner, M.D.

Wilson A. Heefner, M.D., 81, Stockton, Calif., was raised to eternal life on Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013. He was born in Waynesboro, Pa., on Dec. 22, 1931, the son of the late J. Wilson and Evelyn N. Heefner. Dr. Heefner was predeceased by his beloved son Jay W. Heefner II, and is survived by his beloved wife of 56 years, Patrici...

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Waynesboro Record Herald - Waynesboro, PA

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Posted Feb. 20, 2013 at 8:28 AM
Updated Feb 20, 2013 at 8:33 AM

Posted Feb. 20, 2013 at 8:28 AM
Updated Feb 20, 2013 at 8:33 AM

Wilson A. Heefner, M.D., 81, Stockton, Calif., was raised to eternal life on Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013. He was born in Waynesboro, Pa., on Dec. 22, 1931, the son of the late J. Wilson and Evelyn N. Heefner. Dr. Heefner was predeceased by his beloved son Jay W. Heefner II, and is survived by his beloved wife of 56 years, Patricia, and his daughter, Annette Rigato and her husband Randy, Linden, Calif. He is also survived by his daughter-in-law Alice Heefner. His life was particularly blessed by his grandchildren, Heather, Leah and Max Heefner, and Ryan Rigato. Other survivors include his brother, Jay Heefner and his wife Pat; his sister, Madolin Harbaugh and her husband Ronald; and sister-in-law Margaret Heefner, all of Waynesboro, Pa., as well as two aunts, numerous nephews, nieces, great-nephews and great-nieces. His brother, Colin Heefner, predeceased him. Also surviving are his mother-in-law Marie J. Toms, Chambersburg, Pa.; sister-in-law, Jacqueline Wise, Chambersburg, Pa.; and brother- and sister-in-law Bernard and Nellie Snodderly, Waynesboro, Pa.
Dr. Heefner graduated from high school in June 1949 in Waynesboro, Pa. In July 1949 Dr. Heefner enlisted in the U.S. Army, receiving an honorable discharge in the grade of corporal in December 1952. Following his discharge from active duty, he continued his military career in the Army National Guard and the U.S. reserve, retiring in 1990 in the grade of colonel after 41 years of active duty and reserve component service. In June 1956 he graduated summa cum laude from Gettysburg College, Pa. On July 8, 1956, he and Patricia A. Snodderly, Waynesboro, were united in the bonds of holy matrimony.
Dr. Heefner received his Doctor of Medicine Degree summa cum laude in June 1960 from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md., completing his internship and residency in pathology in 1965. He was an assistant professor of pathology at the University of Maryland until 1968, when he joined the pathology practice of Drs. Alfred Edwards and W. Robert Sawyer at Dameron Hospital, Stockton. After retiring in 1988, Dr. Heefner returned to college, receiving a Master of Arts degree in 1992 from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He then began a second career as a military historian and author.
Dr. Heefner was a longtime faithful member of Quail Lakes Baptist Church, where he served as an elder. He held membership in various Masonic groups, and was also a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, AMVETS, Military Officers Association of America, and BPO Elks. He was a past president of the local chapters of the American Cancer Society and the Military Officers Association of America. He served as Chief of Staff of Dameron Hospital.
A memorial service will be held at Quail Lakes Baptist Church at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, 2013. Final arrangements by Cherokee Memorial Park and Funeral Home. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers the family has requested that any memorial gifts be sent to the Memorial Fund, Quail Lakes Baptist Church, 1904 Quail Lakes Drive, Stockton, Calif. 95207.
Please sign the online guestbook at:
www.cherokeememorial.com